Rhys back from Germany to aid Hungerford cause

Former Reading youngster finds German football a maturing experience

FORMER Reading FC youngster Rhys Tyler had to move abroad to take the step from youth to senior football when he took to German football

He joined German club Rot-Weis Erfurt in 2010 and soon progrssed to the first team, spending two years before taking a step up to Rot-Weiß Oberhausen where he spent three seasons.

But having turned down offers to remain in Germany, he has opted to return home to Berkshire and has joind Hungerford Town.

“Germany was a really good experience,” he said. “It’s a different style and the biggest factor is the culture but my first manager spoke fluent English and that helped me to settle in.

“The football was more drilled and so are people generally, and it’s all very efficient and punctual and that puts you in good stead.

“An agent picked me up from Reading and his company was based in Cologne and sent me to a club on trial and they signed me within two days and I joined their under 18s.

“He was my first agent and nothing was happening for me in England. Six years ago in England there was nowhere to go and no step up from under 18s to reserves or wherever, and you had to drop down, whereas in Germany there’s a choice of under 18, ,19, 23 and so on, but in England you’re either in the first team or nowhere.

“They do produce a lot of good youngsters and the first club I was at just sold a player to a first league club and a few of my previous team-mates have move on to higher teams.

“The general ratio of how many German players play in higher divisions to the number of English players doing that in England is much higher. It matured me a lot moving out there. I played left back, said I had a left foot and worked on that for two months before I moved out there and I was moved up into the men’s first team after two months. Forced you to be professional all the time.”

Having opted to return to English football, Tyler is hopeful of getting himself back on the football ladder here.

“The system there is different, but here the 7th level where we are is harder than the fifth there. It’s a lot tougher here whereas there it’s a lot more relaxed.

“When I came back, I didnlt have a club, but Bobby conta cte dme and I knew Bobby from when I was a Reading and knew a few of the boys. It’s a good little set-up and I like the ethos of the manager and the team and the ambitions after last season. This season would be the next stop.”